Hello. I wonder if anyone can help me please. I was diagnosed with MS 6 years ago and am now having some problems with my right eye. It’s painful when I move it and it’s blurred and getting worse. I was referred to the eye clinic on Wednesday who did all the normal eye tests but didn’t find anything so they are sending me for an MRI scan. I have requested to start some steroid treatment today but my GP has said that my ESR level is normal which indicates that it is not MS related. Has anyone else got any history of this please? I’m worried what else it could be if it’s not MS as the dreaded brain tumor has been mentioned and now I’m worried. I’d convinced myself it was an MS relapse but apparently if my inflammation levels are normal then it can’t be.
Hi Steph
I’ve never heard of the ESR test so I looked it up. It seems to be a not infallible test for inflammation. But the fact that you’ve been given the test, told there’s no inflammation therefore there’s no MS relapse doesn’t really make sense. Firstly because the website I’ve just looked on (obviously all websites can be wrong but I’d be surprised in this case) says that a negative result doesn’t mean there is no inflammation, i.e. that you can easily have a false negative. Secondly, if it was possible to diagnose an MS relapse by a simple test, why isn’t it used regularly? I’ve had MS for 20 years and have never heard of the test.
I’d ask for more info. Also, don’t worry too much, it does after all sound like ON caused by a relapse. Try to get some answers from a neurologist rather than a GP. I know you’ve now got a nervous weekend ahead of you. Maybe some other people with more knowledge can help. I hope so.
Sue
Thank you Sue. I’ve also been doing some more research and have come up with the same answers as you. I really do think it’s a relapse but when your GP is saying that it’s definitely not, it makes me slightly concerned. I have a prescription for some steroids which he has told me not to have now that my ESR markers are low but I think I may start them tomorrow to see if they help as I’m obviously not going to get any more answers until Monday. I have an appointment with my Ms clinic on Wednesday so hopefully I’ll be able to get some more answers then. Steph x
And I am thinking just the same as Sue - so your GP is an MS specialist already?
Sounds like ON either triggered by, or causing, a relapse. The best way to find out is, of course, an MRI scan. If your GP does not want to refer you, maybe you should think about another GP.
Geoff